Does AP Classroom Detect AI on Assignments?

AP Classroom itself does not have any built-in AI-generated detection system.

However, the College Board has developed a method to identify generated content using external tools.

That’s why it’s unlikely that AI-generated content use will go completely unnoticed in the AP ecosystem. 

What is an AP Classroom?

AP Classroom is a digital educational platform developed by the College Board that supports students in their Advanced Placement (AP) course studies. It provides students access to different and multiple resources for preparation, which include:

• Exams and question papers from the official AP
• Different types of instructional videos and the learning modules
• On this platform, teachers can assign and check tasks to students
• This platform also gives access to different feedback and progress tracking tools

This is the reason AP Classroom has most of its features focused on learning and assessment, which is its primary focus.

Limitations of AP Classroom

AP Classroom doesn’t have built-in features designed to identify AI-generated content. This is the reason the teachers have to rely on the following methods to detect AI use, such as:

• By manual analysis, the content is analysed by writing style and content
• Using external AI detection tools
• Assessing student performance in the in-class discussions
• Last but not least, comparing their assignments with previously submitted assignments

How does the College Board identify AI Usage?

The College Board uses the following methods to identify the use of AI.

Turnitin Integration

The College Board has partnered with Turnitin, a renowned plagiarism and AI detection software, which identifies AI-generated content or paraphrased content more effectively than any other tool on the market.

This tool claims to have 98% accuracy in detecting all sorts of AI-written material, although some other sources claim a slightly higher accuracy of around 99%. 

Turnitin detects the text by checking patterns of words that are mostly similar in machine-generated writing.

Not only does it examine how often a word is used, but it also compares it with natural human writing variations and styles.

It can identify both types of content 

• 100% AI AI-generated content 
• Mixed (AI and human-written) 

Teacher Assessment Method

Another method is the teacher’s assessment method to detect AI, where teachers play a crucial role in identifying AI usage through:

In an AP classroom, teachers can easily identify inconsistencies in tone between human-written content and AI-generated content, as well as complex vocabulary usage, simply by reviewing the content. So, students, especially those working on a literature review or a PhD, should be aware of this. Projects shouldn’t use AI to avoid any consequences.

Checking point requirements are also added to the College Board learning system to prevent the use of AI. There are checkpoints involved where students explain to teachers their thought processes and decision-making while writing these assignments.

College Board’s Official AI Detection Policies

The College Board has developed detailed policies regarding AI usage in various AP courses, which include numerous restrictions and the implementation of detection tools. 

These restrictions on AI usage vary and depend on the AP courses.

The following are the course-specific AI policies created by the College Board.

AP Art and Design

 For AP art and design, the use of AI tools is prohibited in these creative courses, as students are encouraged to create without the use of AI and present original artistic development.

AP Computer Science Principles

For computer science principles, the use of AI tools is limited, such as understanding coding principles or debugging, as these are challenging topics; however, the final product should reflect the student’s own understanding.

AP Seminar and AP Research

These courses, such as AP Seminar and AP Research, have the most detailed AI policies, as the research process is quite time-consuming. 

Therefore, students are allowed to use AI for initial topic research and source searching; however, the final submission must be completed independently by students.

Consequences of AI Detection

Students who are caught using AI to cheat on checkpoints or an AI detection tool will receive a score of zero on the task.

The College Board has the right to investigate all suspicious AI submissions. For this purpose, they may request that students submit copies of their interim work for comprehensive review, so students should avoid using AI in their essay or assignment writing.

The penalties or punishment for AI use in AP courses can be severe  based on the severity of the violation:

Minor Violations

For minor violations, students may receive a zero score in their exams for the specific component; however, they will still receive an overall AP score.

Major Violations

For any significant violation of policies, students’ exams may be cancelled, which could result in their appearance on report cards sent to colleges.

Severe or Repeated Violations

In the event of severe or repeated violations, the College Board reserves the right to ban students from future AP exams, which can have a direct impact on their future academic prospects.

The Accuracy Problem with AI Detection

Nowadays, the most significant issue that students are facing in the education sector is the high rate of false positives. 

Many AI detection tools have serious accuracy issues, which can jeopardize the student’s future. A study at Stanford University found that AI detectors falsely flagged 61.2% of English essays that non-native English speakers wrote. That’s why the accuracy of AI tools should be good enough to detect human-written and AI-generated content with a minimum percentage of false positive results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can AP Classroom Detect Split Screen?

The simple answer is no, as AP classrooms have features designed for education, not to detect AI or split screens. Hence, if any students open a new browser, split the screen, or take notes, teachers will not receive any notification.

However, when students take quizzes on school laptops, the school may install secure browsers or remote proctoring tools, such as Respondus LockDown Browser or GoGuardian, which can’t allow users to change the browsers and restrict split-screen activities.

Q2: How can I avoid being Falsely Accused of using AI?

The best way to avoid such accusations is to refrain from using AI for your assignment and instead complete it yourself, utilizing your critical thinking skills to ensure accuracy and originality. Additionally, ensure that you cite all sources and use information from reputable, high-authority sources. Moreover, participate actively in all class discussions to demonstrate your understanding of the lessons.

Q3: Can AP Classroom Track My Browser Activity While I’m Working on Assignments?

Yes, AP Classroom can monitor when you switch tabs during assessments by analysing IP addresses and browsing patterns.

Q4: Are Handwritten Notes Safe From AI Detection by Turnitin Tool?

Handwritten assignments cannot be directly scanned for AI content in Turnitin. Still, to verify AI in handwritten notes, they are first transcribed digitally for submission and then uploaded to AI detection tools to determine if they are human-written or not.

Q5: Does AP Classroom Detect Screenshot?

 No AP classroom can capture a screenshot; teachers don’t get any such notification. However, sharing any sort of screenshot during a quiz or test will be considered cheating and can have serious consequences.